Romantic comedies blend tropes from romance and comedy movies to bring audiences fun, cheesy and lighthearted films about the trials and tribulations of falling in love. While rom-coms are one of the most popular film genres, the subset of films has historically lacked in terms of featuring queer characters and relationships.
The four films described below each bring their own unique story to the canon of romantic comedies, featuring cute and fun stories that expand the genre to include queer people. These films deviate from the norm of queer stories being told as "tragic" and allow gay viewers to see queer love on the big screen.
Saving Face Explores the Chinese-American Experience
Alice Wu's directorial debut, Saving Face, tells the story of a Chinese-American lesbian, Wil (Michelle Krusiec), and her more traditional mother, Gao (Joan Chen). Wil meets Vivian (Lynn Chen), a dancer, and the two women begin dating. Both Wil and Gao have to "save face" and hide aspects of their relationships: Wil has to hide her queerness, and Gao has to hide her relationship with a younger man, forced into the light by a pregnancy out of wedlock. Released in 2004, Saving Face touches on themes of family, lesbianism and tradition through the lens of a Chinese-American perspective.
Saving Face is now streaming on Tubi.
Lena Headey and Piper Perabo Star in Imagine Me & You
Imagine Me & You, released in 2005, is a British romantic comedy. The film follows an ensemble cast, focusing on the budding relationship between Rachel (Piper Perabo) and florist Luce (Lena Headey). The two meet at Rachel's wedding to Heck (Matthew Goode), and there's an immediate attraction between the two women. Reluctant to break off her marriage to Heck, Rachel works through her sexuality with the help of her friends and family. Eventually, Rachel pursues a relationship with Luce with the support of her best friend and husband, Heck. Imagine Me & You is full of many tropes from the rom-com genre, but overall is a lighthearted film about pursuing love.
Unfortunately, Imagine Me & You is not available for streaming in the US but is available to rent on Amazon.
Love, Simon Led to the Spinoff Love, Victor
Love, Simon is a 2018 teen romantic comedy based on the novel of the same name. The 2018 film is about Simon (Nick Robinson), a closeted teenage boy and his group of high school friends. When another student at Simon's school anonymously comes out as gay, Simon is determined to connect with "Blue." Things fall apart for Simon when his emails with Blue are leaked to his entire school, outing him to his community. In true rom-com fashion, things eventually turn around for Simon as he finds out Blue's true identity and is accepted by his family and friends.
Love, Simon is available to stream on Hulu.
Fire Island Tackles Jane Austen
The most recent release is Fire Island, a queer retelling of Jane Austen's monumental novel Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Andrew Ahn, Fire Island chronicles Noah (Joel Kim Booster), Howie (Bowen Yang) and their group of queer friends as they venture on their annual trip to Fire Island. The group encounters Charlie (James Scully), Will (Conrad Ricamora) and their rich gay friends, with some initial conflict adding tension between Noah and Will. Fire Island follows its source material closely, bringing Austen's story into the 21st Century and adding a fun, sexy queer twist to the classic tale. The film deftly touches on relevant themes like classism and, overall, is a hilarious and touching addition to the queer rom-com canon.
Fire Island is currently streaming on Hulu.
These four films, and many more not mentioned, give queer characters and relationships their chance to shine on-screen. The stories they tell bring queer stories to audiences who might not have seen themselves getting a happy, lovely ending in movies before and open the door for future stories about queer love to be made.